TENNIS| Rafael Nadal wins 12th French Open title following victory over Dominic Thiem

Rafael Nadal wins 12th French Open title with victory over Dominic Thiem


Rafael Nadal claimed a remarkable 12th French Open triumph with a win over Dominic Thiem in four sets.

Nadal has been a dominant force on the clay at Roland Garros and asserted his dominance again with a third straight victory.

He has missed out on the French Open crown just three times since 2005, and made light work of Austrian star Thiem in the final for the second straight year.

After a tense opening two sets, his class shone through as he emerged with a well-deserved victory - his 18th major success.

"First of all, congratulations to Dominic," Nadal said after his win.

"I really hope he will have the chance to win in the future. He has an unbelievable passion for this sport. I wanted to congratulate him and encourage him for the future.

“It is really incredible. I cannot explain. The sensation is a dream to play for the first time in 2005 here. I could not think that in 2019 I would be still here.”

Nadal quelled a fierce challenge from Thiem to win the opening set.

There was brutal hitting throughout the 53 minutes it took for Nadal to clinch it 6-3.

It was a repeat of last year's final, which Nadal won in straight sets. Thiem made the first move with a break for 3-2 but his advantage was wiped out straight away and four games in a row sealed the set for the Spaniard.

BREAKING| Boko Haram terrorists reportedly captures Marte, HQ of Marte LGA of Borno State

Boko Haram terrorists have reportedly captured Marte, HQ of Marte LGA of Borno State

 - June 3, 2019


Reports have it that the insurgents stormed the Marte military base, 153 Task Force Battalion, shooting sporadically and in the process razed “everything”.

It quoted a military source as saying on Monday: “The insurgents seem not to have intended harming any civilian, but only to capture the town; so they stormed the military base, taking troops there unawares at about 6pm (Sunday) much less than an hour to break fast time”.

“We engaged them in a fierce encounter for about an hour. Initially, we were about getting victorious over them, but they overpowered us, and all troops in the burning base were set asunder, with all of us fleeing in all directions in the bush.

“I can tell you that we were about defeating them; but God knows the tactics they later deployed and the defeat turned against us; we all fled; they are in control of the town now.”

According to another fleeing source, “casualty figures cannot be confirmed on both sides, with all of us fleeing in all directions into the bush, and many of us finding their way to Maiduguri, and majority still roaming in the bush.

“Many of us who are lucky to find our way to Maiduguri or any safe community will elope to their home states across the country to relieve themselves of the trauma.”

This development is coming days after Lt Gen Tukur Buratai, the Chief of Army Staff, declared that Boko Haram has been defeated.

According to him, Nigerian military is now fighting an international criminal gang known as Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP).

BREAKING| Sultan declares Tuesday Eid-el-Fitr day, as moon is sighted

Sultan of Sokoto, Sultan  Sa’ad Abubakar III, has announced tomorrow Tuesday Eid-el-Fitr,

Sallah in accordance with  the Islamic laws.

He announced this at his palace while speaking with Journalists on the outcome of the moon sighting.

He enjoined all the Muslim faithfuls to continue to pray for the unity of the country.

Entertainment| Jay-Z 'becomes hip-hop's first ever billionaire'

Jay-Z has become hip-hop’s first ever billionaire, Forbes has announced.

The rapper’s empire “conservatively” totals $1 billion after valuing his various ventures, plus his real estate and art collection, the business magazine said.

He has joined just a handful of entertainers who have gained billionaire status, and is the first hip-hop artist to claim such a fortune, Forbes added.

Real name Shawn Carter, Jay-Z grew up in one of New York’s roughest neighbourhoods and was a drug dealer before becoming a musician.

He once declared: “"I'm not a businessman - I'm a business, man".

In Forbes a cover story, it has now been revealed that Jay-Z’s music rights alone are collectively worth $75 million. His entertainment company Roc Nation is also worth $75 million.

Some of the rapper’s most valuable holdings include his $310m ownership of Armand de Brignac champagne and a $100m stake in D’Ussé cognac.

Jay-Z has $50 million in real estate and a $70 million investment in ride-hailing app Uber.

As a couple, he and his wife Beyoncé were given billionaire status by Forbes two years ago.

Speaking about Jay-Z’s new-found billionaire status, Kasseem “Swizz Beatz” Dean, the producer behind some of the rapper’s biggest hits, said: ““If he’s a billionaire now, imagine what he’s about to be… Because he’s only just starting.”

He told Forbes: “It’s bigger than hip-hop … it’s the blueprint for our culture. A guy that looks like us, sounds like us, loves us, made it to something that we always felt that was above us.”

APC members divided over calls for Oshiomhole’s resignation

APC members divided over calls for Oshiomhole’s resignation


All Progressives Congress (APC) Chairmen in the six states of the South South have issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Deputy National Chairman North, of the party, Senator Lawal Shuaibu to apologise to the National Chairman of the APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.

They threatened that Shuaibu will incur the wrath of the people of the zone, if he failed to do so.

They described as irresponsible and mischievous, the letter written to the national chair, asking him to resign.

The Chairmen added that the tone of the letter showed Senator Shuaibu was being used by enemies of the APC.

They declared this in a communique signed by Hon. Ini T. Okopido (Akwa – Ibom State), Hon. Amos Lalabunafa ( Bayelsa State), Mr. John Ochalla (Cross Rivers State), Prophet Jones Ode Erue – State Chairman , Delta State,Barr. Aslem U. Ojezua (Edo State) and Ojukaye Flag Amachree – State Chairman , Rivers State.

The communique reads, “Following the debates generated by the Deputy National Chairman, North Senator Lawal Shuaibu’s call on the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), to resign, the South – South State Chairmen of the party has risen in defence of the party’s National Chairman faulting the public outburst of a senior party official who ought to be well acquainted with the provisions of the party’s constitution regarding how to channel perceived grievances if any exist.

“The State Chairmen rising from an emergency meeting in Abuja called to review the content of the said letter and to critically evaluate the situation, came to the view that the Deputy National Chairman North merely expressed his personal opinion on perceived issues which is not a reflection of the views of the generality of party stakeholders who are yet to find anything ontoward in the stewardship of the party’s National Chairman His Excellency, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.

“The State Chairmen further disagreed with Senator Lawal Shuaibu’s claims that the actions of the National Chairman was responsible for multiplicity of court cases bedeviling various State chapters of the party rather, they asserted it was the landmines created by his predecessor who was bent on destroying the party before departing that fueled the unfortunate situation and wondered why Senator Lawal Shuaibu is just realizing the issues he raised barely few days after the NWC set up a committee to look into petitions against highly placed party stakeholders who were glaringly involved in anti-party activities which was responsible for the loss of the number of states mentioned in his letter vis a – viz the depletion also in the numbers of elected Senators in the just concluded 2019 elections.

“The State Chairmen also debunked the allegations of high-handedness against the National Chairman with particular reference to the altering of National Working Committee decisions as a veil plot to crucify the National Chairman over his uncompromising stance on truth against elements bent on destroying the party from within.

“They however, urged for restraint on the part of Senator Lawal Shuaibu asking him to employ more civilized ways of expressing whatever private grievance he has against the National Chairman instead of playing to the gallery by granting interviews to launch unprovoked attacks on the National Chairman and by extension, the very party he claims to love.

“The State Chairmen wondered whose interest the media outburst seeks to serve and it’s original intendment stating unequivocally that, the National Chairman cannot be removed on the pages of newspapers because the constitution of the party which Senator Lawal Shuaibu subscribed to, as a member of the NWC, clearly guarantees the tenure of office of the party’s National Chairman and the processes of removing him from office.

“The Deputy National Chairman North is hereby given seven days to apologise to the National Chairman in order not to receive the wrath of party members in the South South.

“The State Chairmen also frowned at the intermittent and most unjustifiable attacks on the National Chairman who have maintained unblemished records since joining active politics and has untiredlessly ensured internal democratic norms are entrenched in the party since his assumption of office.

“The State Chairmen observed that what the Deputy National Chairman , North have done is tantamount to creating disaffection amongst party faithful. This they said , is very offensive to the constitution of our great party.

“The Chairmen thereafter passed a vote of confidence on the National Chairman and vowed to resist any attempt to blackmail him out of office for standing against injustice that has hitherto been the hallmark of his predecessor which was the only legacy he left behind,” it stated.

Maurizio Sarri asks to leave Chelsea ahead of potential Juventus move

Maurizio Sarri asks to leave Chelsea ahead of potential Juventus move


Maurizio Sarri has asked to leave Chelsea just two days after winning the Europa League with the Blues.

Sarri has been tempted by the prospect of a return to Italy, with Juventus earmarking the former Napoli coach as a potential successor to Massimiliano Allegri along with Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino.

The Italian coach only arrived back with the rest of the Chelsea squad from Baku following their 4-1 Europa League win over Arsenal on Thursday afternoon, and met with his representative Alessandro Pellegrini later in the evening.

Pellegrini joined influential agent Fali Ramadani - who acted as an intermediary when Sarri left Napoli for Chelsea last summer - in London on Friday to hold talks with the club regarding Sarri's future.

Reports emanating from Italy late on Friday night suggested that Sarri held a meeting with Marina Granovskaia, during which he told the director that he wants to leave - and Standard Sport understands that to be the case.

Chelsea are reluctant to sack Sarri having just paid former boss Antonio Conte £9m in compensation, and it is believed that the club will not stand in his way given that they can now make a managerial change without having to pay him off.

Juventus’ players are under the impression that Sarri will be their next coach and, significantly, Bianconeri president Andrea Agnelli was in Baku to meet with Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck before the Europa League Final.

Pochettino remains a target for Juventus, and the Italian champions want to see how the Champions League final plays out before making any final decisions as they still have ambitious thoughts toward the Tottenham coach.

But with Pochettino having four years left on his current deal and Spurs not wanting their prize asset to go, Sarri is seen as the more realistic target.

FOOTBALL| Furious Sarri storms out of Chelsea training over Luiz and Higuain square up in Baku row

May 28,2019


FURIOUS Maurizio Sarri stormed out of Chelsea training on Tuesday - as David Luiz and Gonzalo Higuain squared up in Baku.

Earlier in Tuesday's training session, Higuain had gone in late on Luiz - with the pair going their separate ways, before storming back towards each other to exchange words.

The club claims the two incidents - the player row and Sarri's tantrum - are unrelated, as BT Sport cameras caught all of the madness.

However, all the tension is unlikely to do any good ahead of Wednesday night's monster game.

Speaking on BT Sport, ex-Chelsea star Eidur Gudjohnsen claimed: "It does raise concerns. something must have gone on.

"You obviously have a group of players with big personalities and the last thing you need or want is for your players to get injured.

"Something has gotten the manager very angry in that situation as you can see.

"Something went on and sort of ruined the training session, that is what it looked like from here, anyway.

"You don't want to see your players arguing, that's for sure.
"VERY WRONG"

"You want a well-organised, short, sharp training session, 45, 50 minutes just reminding everyone of their tasks, getting the muscles ready, getting everyone hungry for tomorrow's game."

Fellow pundit Martin Keown added: "This [storming off] is where he is very wrong as a manager.

"Because no-one knew there was anything really particularly wrong until he acts like that. He's a little bit too emotional.

"I know he's disappointed, he's thinking, 'Why aren't they all getting along? We have a great occasion coming up.'

"He either loves them or he hates them and he has to be middle ground as the manager.

"If he's going to continue in that job it's going to take him to an early grave because those players will test you.

"Something has gone on, maybe David Luiz is being a bit immature, Higuain may have ran into him and he's not happy.

"These things happen all the time. The manager has added to it by the way he's behaved.

"That's disappointing and that's where Zola should come in and try to calm that one down - he's done that for most of the season.

"But then when you go into a 5-a-side, maybe Higuain knows he's not playing, he's getting frustrated and so there are emotions involved.

"Chelsea are gunning for a piece of silverware in Sarri's first season, having been under pressure from the boo-boys almost all season."

Keown continued: "Players get nervous and tetchy before big games, there's nothing wrong with that but there is something not right in that Chelsea group.

"The manager is the one above all else, his behaviour, it's almost a habit.

"In any family, the children start acting like the parents. It's the same in a football club.